Category: Economy
President to Inaugurate Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2022
The upcoming Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2022, the foremost and most anticipated annual economic event in Sri Lanka, will be inaugurated by the Chief Guest, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, under the theme Resetting from Turmoil to Opportunity on 5th December at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo. This year the Summit will focus on key levers that will […]
‘s working-age population have access to formal work: report
Promoting Access to Decent Work Amidst Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis[1] From IPS’ flagship publication, ‘Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2022’ Access to decent work opportunities in Sri Lanka is limited. Even when jobs are available, not all workers have the same access to decent work. Only 20% of the working-age population have access to […]
UN ramps up its urgent humanitarian appeal to bring life-saving assistance to 3.4 mn Sri Lankans
The United Nations (UN) team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organizations have today revised and extended their joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan, which aims to provide life-saving assistance to 3.4 million people amid Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis since independence. Since June, the HNP has been responding to the Government’s request for UN-backed […]
Driving Policy Action in Sri Lanka from Economic Crisis to Recovery
The Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) held a seminar on 25 October 2022 to coincide with the release of the Institute’s annual flagship report, Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2022, on the theme Driving Policy Action from Crisis to Recovery. IPS researchers Chathurrdhika Yogarajah and Kimuthu Kiringoda captured the highlights of […]
Sri Lanka to join OACPS with a potential EU FTA
Sri Lanka’s Presidential Envoy to Europe and the Commonwealth, Niranjan de Silva Deva Aditya (Nirj Deva), said this week in Brussels that he has started discussions for Sri Lanka to join the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). The Maldives’ more advanced application to join the OACPS should be looked at alongside Sri […]
Low interest working capital loan scheme for SMEs under ADB credit line
Small and medium enterprises can avail of working capital loans from banks through a loan scheme facilitated under an existing ADB credit line, the Finance Ministry said. Sectors expected to provide loans: Agricultural, tourism, and export-oriented sectors Main conditions of the loan scheme: Maximum loan amount is Rs. 10 million. The loan amount can be […]
10 Billion dollars recorded for Exports in 9 months of 2022
Earnings from the merchandise exports increased by 5.75 % y-o-y to US$ 1,093.98 Mn in September 2022 as per the data released by the Sri Lanka Customs. This was mainly due to the increase in export earnings from Apparel & Textiles, Tea, Gems & Jewellery, Electrical & Electronic Components and Spices & Essential Oils. Monthly […]
Japan to organize Sri Lanka creditors’ meeting over debt crisis: report
Japan is working to organize a meeting of Sri Lanka’s creditors by the end of this year in hopes of solving the country’s debt crisis, the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported. The meeting, which will discuss such issues as finding ways to reduce debt payments, aims to curb China’s influence by helping Sri Lanka cope […]
Sri Lanka cabinet approves downgrade back to low income country
Cabinet has approved a proposal to downgrade Sri Lanka to “low income” category on the World Bank list with the aim of getting access to concessional funding from international organizations. “International organizations had informed the Finance Minister to downgrade Sri Lanka back to the lower income category as access to concessional funding would be easier,” […]
Sri Lanka’s real GDP is expected to fall by 9.2-pct this year & a further 4.2-pct in 2023: World Bank
Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is deepening with unsustainable debt and a severe balance of payment crisis on top of lingering scars of the COVID-19 pandemic. Debt restructuring and the implementation of a deep reform program are critical for Sri Lanka’s economic stabilization, says the World Bank in its twice-a-year update, underscoring the need for Sri Lanka […]
CCPI inflation would start falling down from this month: CBSL Governor
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor expects that the Colombo Consumer Price Index (CCPI) will start falling down from this month and to follow a disinflation path in the period ahead. “We expect CCPI at the end of the month to be lower than what we saw in the last month,”Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe said. “That trend […]
Central Bank of Sri Lanka maintains policy interest rates
The Monetary Board of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, at its meeting held on 05 October 2022, decided to maintain the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) and the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) of the Central Bank at their current levels of 14.50 per cent and 15.50 per cent, respectively. In arriving at this […]